Bloggers and Internet Marketers spend a lot of time and mental energy trying to please the Great God Google. We fret and worry about getting Google to like us.
One way to get the All Mighty One to notice us is to post comments on popular blogs in your niche. All the gurus say so.
And when the gurus speak, it must be good. And so it was. We all began to comment like mad.
But sadly, we good guy bloggers aren’t the only ones hoping to win Googlebot’s sweet favor. The sleaze-ball spammers want Google to love them too (good luck slime buckets).
So they sent their little slimebots out to comment on blogs too.
And Google frowned. And our blog comments got filled with gambling ads and penis enhancer ads.
Now maybe my manhood could use some help. But I don’t want the world to know about it, and I damn sure don’t want Google to know.
And no one wanted their blogs cluttered with all that trash.
So someone got the great idea that if the link love was removed from the comments, the spammers would go away and maybe Google wouldn’t. The no-follow tag was invented.
This told Googlebot not to go visit the website of the commentors. It also allowed the blog owner to avoid sharing page rank with the spammers.
But it also made the comment-to-get-Google-love strategy go in the crapper. If Google won’t follow your link, then why comment? So only comment on blogs that don’t use no-follow tags.
Well that’s a dumb attitude.
The only reason you want Google to visit your blog is to bring people to it.
People will read your comments. If they like what you said in the comment there is a really good chance they’ll click on the link to your site.
My Google Reader is full of feeds from blogs that I found by clicking the links displayed in interesting blog comments.
For instance, I found Michael Martine’s Remarkablogger blog from a comment he left in the ItzyBiz blog. I liked the comment. I clicked the link. I looked over the blog. I subscribed to his RSS feed.
No Google required.
Michael is currently running a post where he wants you to put your blog URL in the comments.
Then go visit the sites of other commentors. Maybe help them out by Stumbling some of their posts.
Maybe they’ll do the same for you.
It’s human visitors that count. Go get some of them.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
And it works.
I found you through the Remarkablogger’s post. It was your comment that intrigued me. Your are correct, the world doesn’t need another blog about internet marketing. But you are also right about writing about your passion being key. So I clicked over and read this thoughtful and helpful post.
You are now in my bookmarks so I can enjoy your blog in the future.
James
@James – Thanks! Checked your site out as well. What is CPG?
My must read blog list includes all the ones you list but Big Bright Bulb – which has been added to my reader – as well as yours.
Hi Joe,
I enjoyed reading this post, you have a way with words. Wasn’t sure where you were going but was glad you came back to say that commenting is still beneficial.
I found you via Remarkablogger and will bookmark you.
@Valerie – Thanks for the nice words.
Visited your blog. You, and your family, look like very special people. I agree with you that it will be a valuable asset for a lot of people in the future.
I hope you find the strength to continue it along with all the other tasks you face. God bless.
Found you through Remarkablogger.
You hit on a point currently being discussed in some forums. Are we creating good content? Many people leave comments just so they can get a link, get their name out there, without considering if they are adding value to a site. Unfortunately, this applies to more than blog spambots.
Some people will not leave a comment if a blog is NOFOLLOW. Is that true conversation? Does one go to a social event and only talk with people who are possible prospects? If so, it’s the Amway approach.
What happened to genuine engagement? Appreciate your “rant” (or should I say “rat”) .
Actually, since participating in Remarkablogger’s traffic & Twitter posts, I’ve realized my feeds are broken. I’m really not too concerned. My identity is not based on the # of subscribers or site traffic. My passion is to be able to help others and be involved in the online conversation with those who care to make a difference.
Joe: I found you through Remarkablogger too. I think commenting on other blogs is a good marketing strategy because–like you point out–it gets people to visit your blog if you have interesting things to say. Also, if you frequently post on other people’s blogs and they frequently post on yours, you start to create a community, which is part of the fun of blogging!
I, for one, did not find you through MM’s blog. I found you through my own damn blog. Because of a comment.
Good call. People pay me good money they don’t have, asking how they can market their blogs. Comment, for God’s sake. Not rocket science.
Love the post.
@Dana and @Marelisa – Thanks for reading the post. There is one big danger of commenting and visiting other’s blogs, you can soon get overwhelmed with great stuff to read – like your blogs. I’ve added you both to my reader.
My eyes are bleeding from reading.
@Naomi – it’s an honor to have a real live celebrity post a comment here. That you agreed with me is just icing. Thanks.